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Physical distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your favorite meal. Now you can get it with a side of poetry too!

In an effort to help support local businesses and artists, the Council on Culture & Arts is launching a new initiative called “Poems To Go.” This project pairs free poems with take-out orders from local restaurants and food service organizations.

FYI: To provide our community with important public safety information, the Tallahassee Democrat is making stories related to the coronavirus free to read. To support important local journalism like this, please consider becoming a digital subscriber.

April is National Poetry Month and COCA has created a free, downloadable, printable selection of original poems by local writers. All area restaurants and food service organizations currently offering to-go, curbside pick-up, drive-thru, or delivery services are invited to include a poem with every order.

In an effort to limit exposure of COVID-19 to some of the most vulnerable segments of the population, the Tallahassee Senior Center of North Monroe St is closed to visitors until further notice. Ken Lanese

Hawks Rise Elementary School families lined Meadow Ridge Drive in Ox Bottom neighborhood for a "parade of smiles" that allowed the students to see their teachers while school has been closed until April 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, March 23, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

The owners of Finnegan's Wake and Fifth and Thomas bars in Midtown made the decision Monday to shut down for the foreseeable future, canceling one of their biggest events of the year, an annual St. Patrick's Day party, and laying off around 27 employees. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Senior citizens wear protective equipment and practice social distancing waiting for Publix to open. Publix is one of many stores that have created special hours for senior citizens to shop during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ken Lanese

Hawks Rise Elementary School families lined Meadow Ridge Drive in Ox Bottom neighborhood for a "parade of smiles" that allowed the students to see their teachers while school has been closed until April 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, March 23, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Hawks Rise Elementary School families lined Meadow Ridge Drive in Ox Bottom neighborhood for a "parade of smiles" that allowed the students to see their teachers while school has been closed until April 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, March 23, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Hawks Rise Elementary School families lined Meadow Ridge Drive in Ox Bottom neighborhood for a "parade of smiles" that allowed the students to see their teachers while school has been closed until April 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, March 23, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Peggy Ross, 63, was the first to get tested for coronavirus at Tallahassee's first drive-through testing site which opened at Northwood Centre Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Hawks Rise Elementary School families lined Meadow Ridge Drive in Ox Bottom neighborhood for a "parade of smiles" that allowed the students to see their teachers while school has been closed until April 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, March 23, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Hawks Rise Elementary School families lined Meadow Ridge Drive in Ox Bottom neighborhood for a "parade of smiles" that allowed the students to see their teachers while school has been closed until April 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, March 23, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Hawks Rise Elementary School families lined Meadow Ridge Drive in Ox Bottom neighborhood for a "parade of smiles" that allowed the students to see their teachers while school has been closed until April 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, March 23, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Hawks Rise Elementary School families lined Meadow Ridge Drive in Ox Bottom neighborhood for a "parade of smiles" that allowed the students to see their teachers while school has been closed until April 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, March 23, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Around 45 Hawks Rise Elementary School teachers participated in a "parade of smiles" on Meadow Ridge Drive, allowing them to see their students from a safe distance as schools have been closed until April 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, March 23, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Around 45 Hawks Rise Elementary School teachers participated in a "parade of smiles" on Meadow Ridge Drive, allowing them to see their students from a safe distance as schools have been closed until April 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, March 23, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

aAround 45 Hawks Rise Elementary School teachers participated in a "parade of smiles" on Meadow Ridge Drive, allowing them to see their students from a safe distance as schools have been closed until April 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, March 23, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Around 45 Hawks Rise Elementary School teachers participated in a "parade of smiles" on Meadow Ridge Drive, allowing them to see their students from a safe distance as schools have been closed until April 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, March 23, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Around 45 Hawks Rise Elementary School teachers participated in a "parade of smiles" on Meadow Ridge Drive, allowing them to see their students from a safe distance as schools have been closed until April 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, March 23, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Around 45 Hawks Rise Elementary School teachers participated in a "parade of smiles" on Meadow Ridge Drive, allowing them to see their students from a safe distance as schools have been closed until April 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, March 23, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Around 45 Hawks Rise Elementary School teachers participated in a "parade of smiles" on Meadow Ridge Drive, allowing them to see their students from a safe distance as schools have been closed until April 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, March 23, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Alecia Jimenez helps her daughter Alexa, a 5-year-old kindergartner, hold up her sign that reads "I miss you Mrs. Campbell" as they wait for the Hawks Rise Elementary School "parade of smiles" on Meadow Ridge Drive to begin Monday, March 23, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Florida State University students mill about campus Thursday, March 12, 2020, one day after it was announced that beginning March 23, after spring break, classes would be moved online for at least two weeks in response to concerns about the spread of coronavirus. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

A numbering system is used to help Second Harvest of the Big Bend count how many supplemental food kits they are distributing at Godby High School Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Volunteers from First Presbyterian Church fill out the paperwork necessary for Second Harvest of the Big Bend to give out food to those who visited Godby High School Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Second Harvest of the Big Bend CEO Monique Ellsworth talks with volunteers from First Presbyterian Church as they all work together to distribute supplemental food kits at Godby High School Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Second Harvest of the Big Bend CEO Monique Ellsworth goes through what is inside each of the 500 supplemental food kits being distributed by Second Harvest of the Big Bend at Godby High School Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

The St. John Episcopal Church choir quartet practiced social distancing as they sang during a Facebook Live streamed 10 a.m. service in the chapel Sunday, March 22, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat, Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Volunteer parishioners Jeff Couch, left, and Charlie Belvin work together to set up a Facebook Live stream of 10 a.m. service in the chapel of St. John's Episcopal Church Sunday, March 22, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat, Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

The doors to St. John's Episcopal Church which typically welcome in parishioners on Sunday mornings, remained shut Sunday, March 22, 2020, as the church moved to online streaming of services amid the coronavirus pandemic. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat, Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Volunteer parishioners Jeff Couch, left and Charlie Belvin, right, work with St. John's Episcopal Church Director of Communications Mandy Schnittker to set up the Facebook Live stream of 10 a.m. service inside the church's chapel Sunday, March 22, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat, Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Rev. Dave Killeen welcomes those tuning in to the St. John Episcopal Church Facebook Live stream of 10 a.m. service inside the church's chapel Sunday, March 22, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat, Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

The sanctuary was quiet inside St. John's Episcopal Church Sunday, March 22, 2020, as services moved to online streaming during the coronavirus pandemic. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat, Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

The doors to St. John's Episcopal Church which typically welcome in parishioners on Sunday mornings, remained shut Sunday, March 22, 2020, as the church moved to online streaming of services amid the coronavirus pandemic. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat, Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

The sanctuary was quiet inside St. John's Episcopal Church Sunday, March 22, 2020, as services moved to online streaming during the coronavirus pandemic. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat, Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Executive Director of Clinical Operations for Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Chad Moore shows the swabs used in coronavirus testing during a news conference held to give an update on the Northwood Centre drive-through coronavirus testing site Thursday, March 19, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Darshana Patel, a compounding technician at WellPack Pharmacy located on Capital Circle Northeast, makes sanitizer that will be distributed for free to the community beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, while supplies last. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Darshana Patel, a compounding technician at WellPack Pharmacy located on Capital Circle Northeast, makes sanitizer that will be distributed for free to the community beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, while supplies last. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Darshana Patel, a compounding technician at WellPack Pharmacy located on Capital Circle Northeast, makes sanitizer that will be distributed for free to the community beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, while supplies last. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Darshana Patel, a compounding technician at WellPack Pharmacy located on Capital Circle Northeast, makes sanitizer that will be distributed for free to the community beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, while supplies last. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Darshana Patel, a compounding technician at WellPack Pharmacy located on Capital Circle Northeast, makes sanitizer that will be distributed for free to the community beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, while supplies last. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Darshana Patel, a compounding technician at WellPack Pharmacy located on Capital Circle Northeast, makes sanitizer that will be distributed for free to the community beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, while supplies last. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Peggy Ross, 63, was the first to get tested for coronavirus at Tallahassee's first drive-through testing site which opened at Northwood Centre Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Peggy Ross, 63, was the first to get tested for coronavirus at Tallahassee's first drive-through testing site which opened at Northwood Centre Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Seven Fennec Foxes are currently living at the Tallahassee Museum, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Twice a year, exotic guest animals are brought in to provide the community an opportunity to learn about wildlife. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Seven Fennec Foxes are currently living at the Tallahassee Museum, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Twice a year, exotic guest animals are brought in to provide the community an opportunity to learn about wildlife. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Seven Fennec Foxes are currently living at the Tallahassee Museum, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Twice a year, exotic guest animals are brought in to provide the community an opportunity to learn about wildlife. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Seven Fennec Foxes are currently living at the Tallahassee Museum, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Twice a year, exotic guest animals are brought in to provide the community an opportunity to learn about wildlife. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Seven Fennec Foxes are currently living at the Tallahassee Museum, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Twice a year, exotic guest animals are brought in to provide the community an opportunity to learn about wildlife. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Seven Fennec Foxes are currently living at the Tallahassee Museum, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Twice a year, exotic guest animals are brought in to provide the community an opportunity to learn about wildlife. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Seven Fennec Foxes are currently living at the Tallahassee Museum, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Twice a year, exotic guest animals are brought in to provide the community an opportunity to learn about wildlife. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Seven Fennec Foxes are currently living at the Tallahassee Museum, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Twice a year, exotic guest animals are brought in to provide the community an opportunity to learn about wildlife. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Seven Fennec Foxes are currently living at the Tallahassee Museum, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Twice a year, exotic guest animals are brought in to provide the community an opportunity to learn about wildlife. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Seven Fennec Foxes are currently living at the Tallahassee Museum, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Twice a year, exotic guest animals are brought in to provide the community an opportunity to learn about wildlife. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

Jim Roche, left, and Alexa Kleinbard wear masks while voting during the Florida primary election, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Both are over 65-years-old and felt it was important to exercise their right to vote while also being cautious about the coronavirus. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat

“Poems To Go” is offered by COCA in partnership with the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality which recently launched “Open for Takeout,” an interactive map showing businesses currently offering take-out and delivery food services. You can access the "Open for Takeout" map by visiting oevforbusiness.org.

Visit coca.tallahasseearts.org to learn more about “Poems to Go” and to access COCA’s free, downloadable, printable selection of original poems by local writers.

The goal is to provide our community with a heaping helping of poetry while supporting and celebrating local restaurants and artists. Together, we will nourish both body and soul.

For more information about other programs, services, and resources that COCA provides, please visit www.tallahasseearts.org, call 850-224-2500 or email info@tallahasseearts.org.